The Nativity (2010) User Reviews

Very Good

[Christmas-Reviewer · 8/10 · 18 August 2016]

I have seen 2 versions of this story and this is the better one. We all know the story of the birth of Jesus which is a burden on filmmakers. Because we know the story they still have to make an entertaining film and not bore the audience. They also have to be accurate. With all these built in expectation they were able to deliver a film that should please most people.

Even if don't believe the story of the birth of Jesus this is still a film you will enjoy. It moves quickly and it also gives you a since of what life was like for people 2000 years ago. The casting is excellent. Nobody is miscast. Everyone behaves how you expect them to behave in the situations that they are in.

I think most people should watch this film. If gives you a since that you "Must Have Faith". Without "Faith" is like having "No Air"

Well Done! I will watch this again.

Finally a retelling that does justice to the Joseph character

[prairiefire52 · 7/10 · 23 December 2012]

I agree with the other reviewers. This retelling of the Christian nativity story is a very pleasant surprise. No one is surrounded by any weird glows; schmaltzy music does not swell every three minutes. Angels are not accompanied by sparkly fog. The storyline contains no surprises, of course. The biggest liberty the screenwriters take is to speed up the wise men's arrival.

I've always wondered why nativity retellings didn't make more of the Joseph character. This one finally does, and it turns out that treating Joseph as a three-dimensional character central to the plot worked even better than I thought it would. This Joseph is fully believable and just as conflicted and confused as one would expect. He is a good man who wants to be good to his word and who fully expected his fiancée to be true to hers. This treatment made me realize that Joseph's story is probably more relevant to regular humans than those of the other characters. Joseph is fully human, non-divine, non-chosen, no one special--a regular Joe (sorry!) just like you and me. He had the choice to trust and risk looking like a world-class chump, or to protect his pride by refusing to trust. That's a dilemma that is worth watching, even if you know how the story comes out in the end.

A miniseries with unexpected heart

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 10 February 2011]

I was a bit nervous about watching this beforehand, worried that it would bring make memories of excruciating school plays and the like. I needn't have worried.

This turns out to be a piece of heartwarming television. The scriptwriter makes pains to allow the viewer to enter this historical world by bringing the characters to life with both realism and warmth. The attention to detail is fine, and the Moroccan backdrops are more than up to the job.

Aside from some dodgy CGI graphics of planetary shifts (left over from the latest DR WHO, perhaps) the BBC have done themselves proud here, with the ending particularly moving/everything you could have hoped to see. It's not often I get to commend the BBC for both sincerity and sensitivity, but both are in abundance here.

One of the best programmes over the festive season

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 1 March 2011]

Over last year's festive season, there were some gems as well as some disappointments. The Nativity was one of those unexpected gems. I say unexpected because in all honesty I was expecting it to be like our primary school nativity plays, something you like participating in and enjoy as a child, but in some ways it doesn't really appeal as an adult, especially looking back I remember the songs I had to sing which seem twee by today's standards. Though on the other hand, the holiday is not complete without the story being told in some form or other.

The Nativity wasn't anything like that. It really did appeal to me, it moved and touched me by its warmth and honesty and the end result was heart-warming and a just wonderful slice of television. Visually it is very beautiful, with great costumes and photography and the backdrops are gorgeous, and the music is very well composed and fits well. The writing is poignant and realistic, and while I wondered how they were going to fit the story over a running time such as this one they nailed it, there are many well done scenes such as when Mary is humiliated and the introduction to King Herod and the whole story is well paced, wonderfully told and satisfyingly rounded off.

The cast also do fine jobs. Andrew Buchan is excellent as Joseph, and here I was really sympathetic towards Mary and not only because of how she is treated in some scenes but also because of Tatiana Maslany's heartbreaking performance. Peter Capaldi and Art Malik are also great value, while Vincent Regan is a very effective Herod.

All in all, a wonderful series and one of the best airing over the holidays. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Takes a more in-depth look at the virgin birth

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 19 September 2013]

Three stories connected to the virgin birth from 1 year before. Thomas the shepherd from Bethlehem is struggling. The three Magi are debating then traveling to the birth. And in Nazareth, Joseph starts a new life with Mary.

The biblical story is given a more complex reading. What would happen to Mary if she becomes pregnant without Joseph? She is shunned by the town and most importantly by Joseph. Her father is able to convince Joseph to take Mary to Bethlehem where they hoped Mary would be able escape the shame. But even there, her shame is well known and she is turned away.

That adds much more humanity to the story. And I think it adds more drama. Tatiana Maslany do a good job. If they could get to the pregnancy earlier, it would make it even more compelling.

A poignant and moving portrayal.

[llawrance1972 · 9/10 · 14 April 2017]

This has to be one of my favourite versions of the Nativity story. It is a careful, poignant, and believable filming of the tale. The characters are written as people who are responding to an incredible vision, told by those who would normally be dismissed. Each of the roles is acted with sincerity and a depth of care, the wise men, a shepherd, the families of Mary and Joseph are all there as are Herod and his officers. Their voices build up the story, working it into a picture of God intervening in the world, remaking it. Mary and Joseph are portrayed convincingly and with a pathos I found incredibly moving. These are young people, in love and looking forward to their future before Mary is chosen to bring God to birth. Her acceptance of this, and Joseph's gradual coming to terms with her child is beautifully shown. Joseph is hurt and bewildered. Mary confused but willing to trust. Their slow coming back together makes this retelling a lovely exploration of what it is to be human. I was really glad that I have seen the series and recommend it to anyone who is curious about what it might have been like to witness and be part of this story.

Maybe if the set and cosume designer had written the script?

[ivenditori · 2/10 · 16 December 2023]

It popped up on my kindle. I'm a fan of The Chosen and Dallas Jenkins' The Shephards, but productions can - and need to - stand on their own two feet even with the bar set so high. I watched the first episode opf The Nativity and about 2 minuites into the 2nd, but am stopping there.

Set design and costumes are superbly done. But what's with the 3 kings mention of Saturn and Jupiter? And desert might be hard to find in England, but I'm quite sure Joseph and Mary couldn't wander off alone together to hang out in greenery OR in the desert during their betrothal. They were lucky if they got to see each other much - supervised - much less UNsupervised.

Gabriel - we don't need light and drama theatrics but this is an angel who is frequently in the glory of God. I know people who have vision and have seen angels - the warrior ones are young, strong, and carry some serious weapons. Their light is often substantial. Gabriel may not be a general warrior angel, but I'm quite sure he isn't old with a slightly dirty face and a quite non-white garment, especially spending so much time in Heaven.

The Chosen provides backstories to the gospels, but they are credible and are plausible and scripturally accurate even so. The scene with Mary and Gabriel was....not so much on either count. A little too much liberty there. In fact - Mary saying "I don't believe you" is even a harsher version of what. Zechariah said to Gabriel (How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.") and that got HIM mute for Elizabeth's pregnancy with John the Baptist.

And while we're at it, could we at least have had Mary say something along the lines of "Let it be done according to His will" rather than just smile charmingly and Gabriel disappears?

Interspersed with the backstory are scenes of them approaching Bethlehem. Episode 1 begins with it. I was like "Is Joseph mad at Mary? What's up with that?" Beginning of episode 2 - yes, joseph is very cool to Mary. Well, okay, he might have been, but he also had a dream and decided to marry her, and had to stick by her in some difficult times so.......what's his deal?

A narrative summary about The Nativity says they have trouble in Bethlehem too. Bethelehm was very far away from Nazareth. Additionally, Mary and Joseph are nobodies from a nowhere town. That anyone would know them in Bethlehem seems a bit far fatched - but it makes for good drama I guess.

If the deviation is that great this early on, and the fiction is this IMplausable so far, I can only assume it continues or gets worse.

2023 had a cute little musical movie called Bethlehem - that one took some serious license also, but was light hearted with song and dance. Kind of a kids' thing that put a smile on adult faces. But this one takes has too many errors in its presentation of the story's reverence.

Badly cast, horribly written

[brenda-48343 · 1/10 · 16 December 2023]

If you are going to attempt to create a series based on Biblical stories, at least open your Bible and read it, study the culture of the Jewish people during that era, and have at least a basic understanding of the religion! This was the absolute worst attempt at casting I have ever seen. The actors and actresses from Mary to Thomas were badly cast with people not even remotely interesting, and belonged in a Hollywood movie from the 60s not a Jewish/Christian movie about the birth of Christ. This was an epic fail from the movie set to the costumes. I was turned off within the first 30 minutes! If I could have given this series zero stars I would have done so, but I was forced to give it an undeserving 1 star.